WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Evaluations Provide Some Favorable but no Conclusive Evidence on the Effects Expected for the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children

摘要

GAO analyzed the evaluations of the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children to determine whether they support assertions that have been made about the program's positive effects for five outcomes. GAO found insufficient evidence for making any general or conclusive judgments about WIC's effectiveness overall. In a limited way, however, the information indicates the likelihood that WIC has modestly positive effects in some areas. GAO assessed the problems in the state of evaluation efforts. That the program evaluations do not reveal whether WIC is having the effect intended by the legislation under-scores the need to design and implement better studies. If the lessons learned from past efforts are heeded, it should be possible to produce information on the overall effectiveness of the WIC program.